Methods of designing an invert emulsion fluid having high associative stability

A method comprising:

• providing a proposed invert emulsion formulation,
• wherein the proposed invert emulsion formulation comprises an oil phase, an aqueous phase, and a particulates fraction comprising a first sub-fraction and a second sub-fraction,
• wherein the first sub-fraction comprises high-gravity particulates and the second sub-fraction comprises low-gravity particulates;
• calculating an initial associative stability value of the proposed invert emulsion based on the degree of association between the aqueous phase and the second sub-fraction,
• manipulating the proposed invert emulsion based on the initial associative stability value so as to produce an associatively stable invert emulsion having a final associative stability value in the range of between about 50% and about 100%,
• wherein the initial associative stability value and the final associative stability value are a percentage ratio of the ratio of the second sub-fraction to the aqueous phase as determined based on a component mass balance computation of the oil phase, the aqueous phase, the first sub-fraction fraction, and the second sub-fraction using retort analysis and mud-weight analysis taken before static-aging at a target temperature and at a target pressure,
• to the ratio of the second sub-fraction to the aqueous phase as determined based on a component mass balance computation of the oil phase, the aqueous phase, the first sub-fraction fraction, and the second sub-fraction using retort analysis and mud-weight analysis taken after static-aging at the target temperature and at the target pressure;
• and
• introducing the associatively stable invert emulsion into a subterranean formation.